My ex said the "L" word to me first. I told him that I couldn't reciprocate the same feelings for him just yet. I expressed to him that I cared about him so much, but I that I wasn't in love with him just yet. I told him that he could be patient and wait on me for when I could reciprocate the same feelings, or he could turn away and run the other direction. I did end up falling in love with him and the day that I told him so, the look on his face was priceless. Granted he is an 'ex' now, so it is all irrelevant, but you just have to be patient for the other person to feel the same way.